If you have elderly family members who enjoy having independent lives, you may be interested in finding ways to help keep them safe without changing their living situations or leisure activities. There are plenty of ways you can help create a safe environment for senior loved ones without taking away their independence.

Make Medical History Accessible

Make sure that your loved one has his or her medical history readily available in case something happens. In addition to including a card in his or her wallet that lists medical history and emergency contact numbers, you can have your family member wear a medical information bracelet that will help keep emergency medical responders informed of your loved one’s medical history even if you are not present. Encourage your loved one to wear it at all times.

Improve Home Safety

Go out of your way to go through your loved one’s home and make sure it is a safe environment. Incorporate the use of non-slip surfaces in areas that can otherwise be hazardous, such as the shower and bath, the tile beneath the kitchen sink and the entryway. Install railings in areas where he or she may need assistance getting up as well.

Get a Landline

While many prefer to use cell phones, you may want to set up a landline telephone for your loved one. By having a landline present, your family member will always be able to contact someone for help even if he or she cannot locate a cell phone. Go out of your way to have multiple phones available throughout the household in case he or she is injured and has difficulty moving.

Provide an Alert System

Make sure your loved one has a way of requesting help if he or she has fallen and can’t get up to call for assistance. Popular options are necklaces and other forms of jewelry that provide a button-activated alert system to summon aid.